Cataract Surgery Day 2: What to Expect

Day 2 is when a lot of people say the eye stops feeling like a foreign object. The National Eye Institute says that after 1 or 2 days the eye should feel better, so the itching, light sensitivity, and tenderness that peaked on day 1 usually start easing off. Vision is often clearer than day 1 but still not sharp, and it may drift in and out of focus during the day.

Glare and halos around lights are common right now, especially at night. The American Academy of Ophthalmology calls these dysphotopsias and notes they occur more frequently at night or in dim lighting, and that for many people they resolve on their own within a few months. Do not judge your night vision by how day 2 looks.

The white of the eye may look worse today than yesterday. The American Academy of Ophthalmology explains that a red or bloodshot eye after surgery comes from inflammation or a broken blood vessel called a subconjunctival hemorrhage, and that it may be two or three weeks before the body reabsorbs the blood. It looks dramatic and is generally harmless on its own. Redness combined with pain, light sensitivity, or a change in vision is a different situation, and the AAO says to see your ophthalmologist right away.